BH. Tishrei
5, 5776 / October 7, 2016
Community Newsletter of the Maimonides Hebrew Day School of the Capital District Candle-Lighting: 6:07 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 www.maimonidesschool.org Shabbos Ends: produced by Rabbi Mendel & students in the TNT (Torah ‘n Technology) Program 7:06 Maimonides is accredited by the NYS Board of Regents & is a beneficiary of UJF-NENY
maimonidesschool@gmail.com
ב”ה
וילך
This newsletter is sponsored in memory of our dearly beloved
Dr. Bernard Teitelman on his 11th Yartzeit on Yom-Kippur By Joyce and the Teitelman and Lew Families FEEL BETTER MRS RAMSAY THE BIG TISHREI POSTER
LULAV & ETROG SETS FOR SALE
Morah Dini’s Kindergarteners colored in a giant poster with all kinds of Tishrei holiday images and icons from Yom-Kippur’s whale to Simchat Torah flags, scales to pushkas, Shofar to Lulav. And X’s through the 5 things that are prohibited on Yom Kippur.
Continuing a long-standing tradition, Rabbi Nachman Simon will once again be selling Lulav and Etrog sets. Call 439-8280 for more details, to arrange a time to come over and choose yours or for a drop off arrangement.
We wish Mrs. Ramsay a speedy and complete recovery and look forward to her return next week after recuperating from an accident.
CHUMASH JUST IN TIME 3rd grade Chumash learned about Avram, Sarai, Hagar & Yishmael and completed that whole chapter just around Rosh Hashanah, when that’s one of the Torah portions read!
The Woodlawn neighborhood park just down the street from school (where we love to play) Speaking of timing, the 3rd graders got a little is slated for an equipment upgrade which will also be ADA compliant. Plans are available confused when the Chumash fast-forwarded from the city & are hanging up at the school. (without much warning!) from when Avram (he wasn’t Avraham yet!) was 86 (at Yishmael’s The thing is that we do love some of the current stuff, too, but very very happy to get birth) to when he was 99 when Hashem new and improved, of course! The city is promised he would have a son. It was an seeking input: recreation@albanyny.gov opportunity to learn literary style & devices.
FAST FORWARD HURRICANE MATTHEW All eyes are on the path of the (hopefully weakened) Hurricane Matthew as it barrels up the coast of Florida (hopefully veering out towards the ocean). We are hoping and praying for the safety of the people there and for the least amount of destruction possible. Many of the communities in the path of this hurricane are familiar names to some of us, because we know friends and family and former Albanians who live in those areas.
OUR SHEHECHIYANU FRUITS We asked students for their favorite exotic fruits this Rosh Hashanah: Dragon fruits (such contrast between inside & out) and Asian pears (crisp, light, refreshing) were most common, but they also had (eye-ball) leeches, orange persimmons, fresh dates and star fruits.
WOODLAWN PARK UPDATES
MAIMONIDES 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208
GRADING EACH OTHERS WORK After reading and discussing the book, the HS Girls each wrote essays on John Steinbeck’s “Of Mice and Men”. Mrs. Crawford thought it would be a good idea to have the students grade each other’s essays, and indeed, it was a good learning experience.
MAGNETS IN SCIENCE-ENRICH Students in Science-Enrichment class last week learned about magnets and metals and various magnet strengths.
CHAVRUSA STUDY GROUPS Rabbi Mathless’ 5/6 Chumash class spends a good deal of time in Chavrusa, learning to study in teams, and developing independent learning skills with peers.
TWO TYPES OF PAINTING Nursery students used finger paints to paint their whales (for Yom Kippur’s Jonah in the Whale), and brushes to paint their big blue background seas. This way they learned two different painting techniques, and the effect made something very beautiful.
“LO” MEANS “NO!” Nursery learned the Hebrew word “Lo” (and how it’s made up of two letters) this week as they learned about the 5 things prohibited on Yom Kippur.
REWORDING THE HALACHA UNCLE FEATHER IS These 4th graders are working in pairs to put ITS NAME the Halacha in their own words. These two Mrs. Maher likes to name her staplers. Past years may remember “Fred III” but when her current 4th grades got a chance to name her new stapler, they named it “Uncle Feather” based on a book they are reading in class.
pictured here (working nicely outside their classroom) were discussing how to word the custom of “Shabbos Shuva Drashos”: Do you say Rabbi or Rabbis, Shul or Shuls? After all, there isn’t only one Rabbi or only one Shul?
MORE JONAH IN THE WHALE Kindergarteners also made whale projects. They wrote the names and words like Dag for fish all around the little Jonah man in the transparent plastic.
HAVING FUN IN A PLAY SUKKA PROBLEMS AND SOLUTIONS It’s not even Yom-Kippur yet, but these young Kindergarteners are already having a blast in their classroom’s Play Sukkah Hut. They can’t wait for their real Sukkahs to be built and go out and enjoy meals and Mitzvahs inside their Sukkahs! Being a smaller class, they also fulfill the vision: “All of Israel in one Sukkah!”
What a timely pre-YomKippur theme, as we seek solutions (or Teshuvah) for the problems, mistakes and challenges in our lives. Ms. Arika Ford’s first graders are learning to look and find and pick up on the problem and solution in each story that they read. Here they are pictured writing it up on big lined sheets.
DON’T FORGET THE KIKAYON Everyone knows the story of Jonah and the Whale (or whatever big fish it was) but less people know the important life-lesson that G-d taught Yonah using the Kikayon plant, which shaded Yonah but withered soon after. It’s close to the end of the Yonah reading, look for it when its read as the year’s longest Haftorah at Mincha of Yom Kippur.
SAYING SORRY ISN’T ENOUGH Kindergarten students learned that not only do we have to sincerely apologize for things we’ve done wrong to others but we should also GETTING IT ALL TOGETHER IN CROCHETING think of what we would have done differently 7/8 grade girls enjoy an occasional crocheting class with Mrs. Laber Sr. Aside for the skill learned, next time. Their “Selicha” chart has 3 blanks: there’s a lot of messages in such an activity: staying consistent, building layer after layer, patience... “I’m Sorry to ________ that I ____________ and next time I will ___________________.” SHERLOCK HOLMES IN 7/8 Plus their very own illustrations, of course! Mrs. Crawford’s 7/8 English class is now reading two Sherlock Holmes stories: The Red -Headed League and the Adventure of the Speckled Band. Classic detective stories!
THE APOLLO ROCKETS
LEARNING TO MAKE TZITZIS Rabbi Avraham Kellman is teaching the 7/8 boys to make their own Tzitzis. They learned how to line up the strings evenly, how the Shamash string is longer than the other 3, how the eight strings are really only 4, and many other things. One very interesting reason for the coils in numbers of 7, 8, 11, 13 is that they tie (pun intended) into groupings of Melachos forbidden on Shabbos (from Gra)
HISTORY OF THIS TALLIS The Tallis above isn’t just any old Tallis. It was a gift from Nathan Rosenstein obm to a friend of Maimonides in our community, who wanted to tune it up for Yom-Kippur with new strings. The new strings spun (that’s a pun, too!) into an educational opportunity!
DO YOU HAVE A BOOK OUT?
Mrs. Brennan’s 5/6 are learning about earth, space and the solar system, and watched a documentary on the Apollo rockets. It’s a PARSHA (NOTE)BOOKS story of applied science, energy & exploration, With all the emphasis on Tishrei holidays these 2nd graders are excited to keep on filling the layers of the hemisphere, and much more! up their Parsha books with weekly Parsha themes and thoughts, even poems and songs. PROGRESS ON WOODLAWN Despite their preoccupation with recess-time This week we read “Vayelech” one of the last Torah portions of the year. Only Ha’azinu and and sports at the park, our students keep an eye on the heavy machinery and progress in v’Zos HaBracha are left after this week. and behind the baseball field. A huge deep area has been dug out where the water storage FEEL BETTER MS. BRENNAN! tanks will be going in. Our students thought Oy! Now, also in the same week, Ms. Brennan the big yellow screen machine was sifting for broke her hand! Hopefully it heals well and archeological artifacts but the engineer wrote she feels all better. back that it’s only to sift debris, rocks, and wood out of the dirt.
TIMED TESTS ON TIMES
Mrs. Maher’s 4th graders are now doing timed tests on multiplication problems. One of the benefits to knowing the tables by heart is that knowing the key facts keeps momentum when doing more complex problems. If you have to slow down to figure out the core components of the problem, a study has found that students lose momentum and confidence. So studying the tables now will help you later!
Please remember to bring in the book you borrowed from NEW YORK STATE OFFICIAL Mrs. Maher assigned her 4th The Esty Library so you can graders to look up the official take out a different book and someone else state this or that. Students can enjoy the book you already read. Library found out that the NYS Day is usually on Fridays but classes have animal is the beaver, state occasional other days in the library as well. If freshwater fish is the brook you would like to donate a new book (our kids trout, bird is the Eastern Bluebird, and tree is love reading!) to the Library in honor/memory the Sugar Maple, among other things. of a loved one please speak to Morah Rochel.
THE STRUGGLE FACTOR HS Girls with Rabbi Mendel are learning selections from Tanya chapters 15, 27 and 30, about the struggle factor (on a personal level, regarding worldly matters and in relationships) and finding valuable meaningful application in everyday life.
AH, THAT WORD “KEEDAYM” All it means is “came early” but it’s the subject of intense scrutiny and back and forth debate on the 34th page of Talmud Bava Metzia where its context & implications are debated as to whether it proves that a borrower would have to actually pay or only commit to paying in order to eligible to receive penalty funds in the case of theft. It took our boys a few stabs at it, plus a work-sheet or two, but they are almost there! More review next week…
SHORTER WEEKS, YET
at Maimonides and in the Community 10/8: SHABBOS SHUVA DRASHOS •
•
“Amazing Dynamics of the Interactive Minyan” will be Rabbi Rubin’s Shabbos Shuva Drasha this Shabbos morning at Shomray Torah. Rabbi Feldman’s Shabbos Shuvah talk at CBAJ will be on “A Yom Kippur Shout Out!”
10/8: VAV TISHREI YARTZEIT
too late so the attending boys can get home on time to prepare for YomTov. Thanks!
10/11-12: YOM KIPPUR No School both days. See school schedule in box.
10/13: TORAH HIGH MEETING
This Shabbos is the 6th of Tishrei, yartzeit of the Lubavitcher Rebbe’s mother, Rebbetzin Chana. Farbrengen Kiddush at Shomray Torah.
7pm Interest meeting for teens & parents at CBAJ re after-school Torah High 2.0. Info on schedule, curriculum, format, price and more. For more info or questions: Ilana Kovach at (518) 526-6262.
10/8: SIYUM HASHASS KIDDUSH
10/16-17: FIRST YOMTOV NIGHTS
Kiddush Luncheon following services at CBAJ is sponsored by Greg Miller and Salo Steper in honor of Greg's Siyyum HaShas, having completed his study of the entire Babylonian Talmud through the Daf Yomi over the last several years. Wow!
Sunday night after the meal head over to Rabbi Rubin’s Sukkah (122 South Main) and Monday night after the meal at the Kudan’s Sukkah (6 Peyster Street) for songs & stories, lively and warm Simchas Beis HaShoeva farbrengens.
10/8: NCSY SHABBATON @ CBAJ
10/18: MOTZAI YOM TOV TUESDAY
Programming all Shabbos afternoon at CBAJ and bowling at Sunset Lanes after Shabbos.
Tuesday night after YomTov, a Simchas Beis HaShoeva in the Caras’ Sukkah (96 Grove).
10/9: “WAY WE WERE” CAR SHOW
10/19: SUKKOT RALLY FOR KIDS
Many dozens of old well-cared-for and restored vintage cars on a juried display on Front Street in downtown Ballston Spa. 9am-4pm. Free admission. Rain date: Oct 16th.
10:30am-11:30am at Shomray Torah. Rabbi Motti will be back with storytelling, holiday trivia, raffles and prizes, and treats in the Sukkah. Suggested donation $1 per child. Advance email RSVPs are helpful to: mottel770@gmail.com.
Even with 2 of 5 days missing this week due to Rosh Hashanah, we have a full MC Newsletter. Thanks to all the eager TNT student reporters and everyone who makes the newsletter happen each week!
LULAV SETS FOR SALE Continuing a long-standing tradition, Rabbi Nachman Simon will once again be selling Lulav and Etrog sets. Call 439-8280 for more details, to arrange a time to come over and choose yours or for a drop off arrangement.
FOR PJ LIBRARY FAMILIES Visit: PJLibrary.org/GetTogether You can get up to $150 to pay for the cost of a get-together with other PJ Library families, but you have to sign up by October 31st. It can cover the cost of an informal outing or activity together!
“KEL-BNAY” TORAH JOURNAL SUBMISSIONS
20th annual festival. $7pp, 12 and under are free.
10/19: SUSHI IN THE SUKKAH
Once again MHDS alumni are preparing for an interesting and varied journal of Torah thoughts, inspiration and discussion. Hebrew and English submissions are both welcome. Please email: lebedik1@gmail.com to submit your piece or if you have any questions.
10/9: RINGLING BROS CIRCUS 2pm show at the Times Union Center. Tickets are probably still available. Call for more details.
8th annual at Clifton Park Chabad, 495 Moe Road, 5-7:30pm. Kosher Sushi with Mr. Fuji! Soups, Salads! Hot Cider & Desserts! Klezmer Music! More info? 495-0772/9.
A NEW PLAYGROUND?
10/10: FREE ALBANY INSTITUTE
10/19: WOMENS SUKKAH EVENT
10/9: AUTUMN IN AUSTERLITZ
Free admission for Columbus Day, 10am-5pm. But Stay tuned for more details. Wed Night in a local we do have school that day, so if you’d like to take Sukkah/home, by & for community women. your kids for an hour after school… and then head 10/21: FRIDAY NIGHT IN SUKKAH over to Kapores at 5:30pm... After the Shabbos meal head over to the Gordon’s (29 Glenwood) for a lively warm Shabbos Simchas 10/10: COMMUNAL KAPORES Beis HaShoeva farbrengen in their Sukkah. 5:30pm at Shomray Torah, a communal Kapores one for all men and one for all women, with local Shochet Rabbi K. Suggested cost per person is: $10 10/22: MUSICAL HAVDALAH+PIZZA family: $25 as a donation to Maimonides. Mincha/ CBAJ’s Sat Night “Pizza in the Hut” Sukkot Maariv follows at Shomray Torah. celebration. Musical Havdalah begins at 7:45pm.
10/11: MEN’S MIKVAH TIMES
10/22: HOSHANA RABBA NIGHT
Erev Yom Kippur times: 12:45pm-2pm and again 3:30-5pm at Bnos Israel Mikvah. $10pp, $30 max per family. Kids 12 & under are free, under 18 must be accompanied by adult. Please bring your own towel, or $2 fee per towel. Please don’t come
Late night Chumash Devarim and Tehillim at Shomray Torah as customary on the eve of Hoshana Rabba, the last day of Sukkot. More Sukkot Info Next Week!
The City is looking to put a new upgraded playground in on Woodlawn… see page 1 for more info on this project and contact email at the City of Albany for more info.
MAIMONIDES TISHREI HOLIDAY SCHEDULE 10/3-4: Rosh Hashanah, No School 10/5: Fast of Gedalia, 9:30am start* 10/11: Erev Yom-Kippur, No School 10/12: Yom Kippur, No School 10/13: Day after Yom Kippur, 9:30am start* 10/17-25: Sukkot (including Chol HaMoed) through Simchat Torah, No School 10/26: Post- Simchat Torah, 9:30am start*
* on days with a 9:30am start, grades 1+ please daven before school
MAIMONIDES SCHOOL & COMMUNITY (Nursery / Elementary / High School) 404 Partridge Street Albany NY 12208 (518) 453-9363/3434 maimonidesschool@gmail.com Founded in 1980, Maimonides is chartered by the NYS Board of Regents and is a JF-NENY Beneficiary “A Beautiful Blend: Torah & Worldly Experience!”